Soot blower



DE LOS E. HIBNER, JR., ET AL 2,883,694

April 28, 1959 SOOT BLOWER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1955 no mo os v 5 5 mm m L H on p j 3 3 5 w m m 3 N n t 8 o 3 t z. 3 m @I v mm X. 33 3 mm 9 3 0 mm 0 Q w km 3 w Wm n N 3 wk m 5 33 mm N Q ve JAMES w.HUMPi-IREY Aprll 28, 1959 DE LOS E. HIBNER, JR., ETAL 2,

SOOT BLOWER Filed June 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5. '.F|G.8.

INVENTORS DELOS E. HIBNER JR. lag 1o JAMES w. HUMPHREY United StatesPatent SOOT BLOWER De I los E. Hibner, Jr., Du Bois, and James W.Humphrey,

Glrard, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Blaw- Knox Company,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application June 13, 1955,Serial No. 514,938

Claims. (Cl. -317) This invention relates to soot blowers andparticularly to soot blowers of the retractable type having certainnovel features contributing to improved and more reliable operation andincreased life.

Our soot blower is preferably mounted in a casing which protectsoperating elements of the soot blower and contributes importantly toimproved operation. Desirably a carriage operates in the casing, thelance of the soot blower being connected with the carriage andcommunicating with a supply conduit for soot blowing medium. Means arepreferably provided for moving the carriage along the casing, the lancebeing projectable from and retractable into the casing upon movement ofthe carriage along the casing. The carriage may be moved along thecasing by an endless driving element.

Preferably the lance is rotated. We may provide means for turning thelance and means extending generally longitudinally of the lanceconnected with the turning means actuating the turning means to turn thelance upon relative longitudinal movement between the lance and theactuating means. The turning means may comprise a rotary member turnableabout an axis generally transverse to the lance. We preferably providegearing in the carriage, a source of power and a connection between thesource of power and the gearing for turning the lance. Both the meansfor moving the carriage along the casing and the means for turning thelance may comprise a flexible endless element such as a sprocket chain.

We also provide an improved bearing for the lance adjacent the end ofthe casing where the lance projects therefrom, the bearing having meansguiding the lance in projecting and retracting movements and having aplurality of circumferentially spaced generally cylindrical rollersbearing against a portion of the casing whereby the bearing is rotatablerelatively to the casing, means being provided holding the bearingagainst substantial axial movement.

We further provide limit switch means positioned in the path of thecarriage to be engaged thereby as the carriage moves to the respectiveends of its travel to reverse the direction of operation of the carriagemoving means. We still further provide means for controlling the flow ofsoot blowing medium through the lance together with operating means forthe control means positioned in the path of the carriage to be engagedthereby as the carriage moves along the casing whereby the control meansare operated to admit soot blowing medium to the lance after the lancehas been projected from the casing a predetermined distance and to shutoff the flow of soot blowing medium after the lance has been retracted apredetermined distance.

Other details, objects and advantages of the inven tion will becomeapparent as the following description of a present preferred embodimentthereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown a present preferredembodiment of the invention in which- Figure 1 is a verticalcross-sectional view through a soot blower;

Figure 2 is a view partly in vertical cross section and partly inelevation of the same soot blower as shown in Figure 1 but mounted in aposition inverted with respect to the position of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view partly in horizontal cross section and partly in planof the soot blower when oriented as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical crosssection of the soot lower when oriented as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal crosssectional viewthrough the carriage of the soot blower;

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view through thecarriage;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the bearing for the lance at the endof the casing through which the lance projects; and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII of Figure7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the soot blower ismounted in an elongated casing designated generally by reference numeral2. The casing is of generally square cross-sectional shape as shown inFigure 4. The particular casing shown in the drawings consists of acasing member 3 bent into generally square shape with an opening 4 alongone side of the casing and a second casing member in the form of aclosure mem her 5 closing the opening 4, the casing members 3 and 5being connected together by bolts 6. Normally the soot blower isoriented as shown in Figures 1 and 4 with the closure member 5 at thebottom although it is possible to install the soot blower in invertedposition with the closure member 5 at the top as shown in Figure 2.

The casing 2 has projecting inwardly thereof opposed tracks 7 extendingparallel to the length of the casing and shown as being in the form ofangle members welded to the interior of the casing at 8. The trackscooperate with the top of the casing viewing Figure 4 to guide inmovement along the casing a carriage designated generally by referencenumeral 9 and having wheels 10 riding on the tracks 7. As shown inFigure 4 the wheels 10 have only slight clearance at their upperportions so they guide the carriage equally well by riding on the casingwhen the soot blower is inverted. The carriage also has laterallyprojecting yokes 11 in which are journaled rollers 12 adapted to rollagainst the sides of the casing to aid in properly positioning thecarriage in the casing when the carriage is moved therealong. Actuallythe wheels 10 and rollers 12 and the cooperating parts of the casingmake it possible to install the soot blower with the casing in anyorientation.

There is shown at 13 a supply conduit for soot blowing medium, such, forexample, as high pressure steam, the conduit 13 entering the casing atthe right-hand end thereof viewing Figures 1, 2 and 3 and extendingthrough the carriage generally centrally of the casing and terminatingat 14 as shown in Figure 5. The supply conduit 13 for soot blowingmedium remains stationary relatively to the casing 2 while the carriage9 during operation of the soot blower moves back and forth relatively tothe casing and to the supply conduit.

Rotatably mounted within the carriage 9 in bearings 15 is a sleeve 16 towhich is connected a worm wheel '17. Disposed generally transversely ofthe carriage 9 and rotatably mounted therein in bearings 18 is a shaft19 to which is fastened a worm 20 which is in mesh with the worm wheel17. Also fixed to the shaft 19 is a sprocket 21. When the sprocket 21 isturned it turns the shaft 19 which through the worm 20 and the wormwheel 17 turns the sleeve 16. The. sleeve 16 is coaxial a) with thesupply conduit 13. It is sealed to the supply conduit 13 by packing 22compressed between packing gland members 23 under the action of springs24 as shown in Figure 5. Thus the sleeve 16 is a part of the carriageand moves back and forth over the supply conduit 13 in sealed relationto the supply conduit.

The lance of the soot blower is shown at 25 and is welded at 26 to abracket 27 bolted to the sleeve 16. The lance 25 is as shown in Figureof greater diameter than the supply conduit 13 and when the carriage 9is retracted toward the right viewing Figures 1, 2 and 3 the lance movestelescopically over the supply conduit 13. The end 14 of the supplyconduit 13 is always in communication with the interior of the lance sothat in all relative positions of the supply conduit and the lance thesupply conduit may supply soot blowing medium to the lance.

Figures 7 and 8 show the bearing for the lance disposed at the end ofthe casing 2 where the lance projects from the casing. The bearingcomprises a cage 28 bolted to the casing 2 and having therein a bearingmember 29 having three equally circumferentially spaced cylindricalrollers 30 guiding and supporting the lance for back and forth movementand having three equally circumferentially spaced cylindrical rollers 31operating in the cage providing for turning of the bearing member due toturning of the lance as will presently be described. The hearing memberis held against substantial axial movement by a roller 32 carried by thecage and operating in a groove 33 in the bearing member. Thus thebearing provides anti-friction means for advancing and retractingmovement of the lance and other anti-friction means permitting rotationof the bearing member due to rotation of the lance. The rollers employedin connection with the bearing are of great advantage in a soot bloweras they remain clean much longer than ordinary ball bearings. Thecylindrical rollers engaging the lance do not trap soot but tend togrind it off of the surface of the lance as the lance moves back andforth and turns. The bearing is what may be termed a non-clogging cagetype bearing and is an important improvement in the soot blower art.

The carriage 9 is adapted to be moved back and forth in the casing 2 bya chain 34 having one end dead-ended to the carriage at 35 and the otherend dead-ended to L the carriage at 36, the chain intermediate its endspassing about a driving sprocket 37 at the left-hand end of the sootblower viewing Figures 1, 2 and 3 and an idler sprocket 33 at theright-hand end. The idler sprocket 38 is mounted on a stub shaft 39. Thedriving sprocket 37 is fixed to a shaft 40 which extends through thewall of the casing 2. Another sprocket 41 is fixed to the shaft 49outside of the wall of the casing 2 and is driven by a sprocket chain 42which also passes about a sprocket 4,3 driven by a motor 441 throughreduction gearing 45. Thus when the motor 4-4 operates in one directionthe sprocket chain 34 moves the carriage 9 in one direction in thecasing 2 and when the motor 44 operates in the opposite direction thecarriage is similarly moved in the opposite direction in the casing.

In the carriage 9 in addition to the sprocket 21 are idler sprockets 4-5and 46. At the side of the casing 2 opposite the side at which thesprocket chain 34 is disposed is a sprocket chain 47 which is guidedabout the sprocket 21 by the idler sprockets 45 and 46 as shown inFigure 1 and also passes about a driving sprocket 48 and an idlersprocket 49. The idler sprocket 49 is mounted on a stub shaft 50. Thedriving sprocket 48 is fixed to a shaft 51 which extends through thewall of the casing 2. Another sprocket 52 is fixed to the shaft 51outside of the wall of the casing 2 and is driven by a sprocket chain 53which also passes about a sprocket 54 driven by a motor 55 throughreduction gearing 56. Thus the motor 55 through the mechanism justdescribed including the sprocket chain 47 drives the shaft 19 and hencethe lance 25 in turning movement about its axis. The lance may be drivenin such turning movement at the same time as it is being advanced orretracted. Indeed, even if the motor is stopped, advancing andretracting movement of the lance will cause it to turn since movement ofthe carriage 9 relatively to the stationary chain 47 will result inturning of the shaft 39 and hence of the lance. However, it is desiredto drive the lance by the motor 55 since by so doing the lance does nottravel at all times in a fixed helical path. The lance is provided atits extremity with nozzles 57 through which soot blowing medium such assteam under pressure is emitted. Thus as the lance is simultaneouslyadvanced and turned the jets of steam will cover virtually the entiresurface to be cleaned. The lance travels at different speeds, and hencethe jets trace different helical paths, in the projecting and retractingmovements of the lance, respectively, because of the arrangement of themeans for turning the lance as above described.

The motor 44 operates alternately first in the direction to project thelance and then in the direction to retract the lance. The motor isreversed by limit switch 53 which may be of conventional form andpositioned in the path of a roller 64) in the carriage 9. As thecarriage moves toward the left viewing Figure 3 the roller 6% engagesthe limit switch 58 and operates it to reverse the direction ofoperation of the motor whereupon the carriage moves toward the rightuntil the limit switch 59, which also may be of conventional form andpositioned in the path of the roller 60, is operated to stop thecarriage. The wiring for the limit switches may be conventional and suchas could easily be installed by any person skilled in the art with theabove explanation.

Similarly a valve (not shown) is provided for controlling the supply ofsoot blowing medium. it is desired that soot blowing medium pass throughthe lance when the soot blower is in operation but not when the lance isretracted within the casing. We provide a blowing medium valve controlswitch 61 which is also disposed in the path of the roller 6t). Theswitch 61 is shown in Figure 3. As the carriage moves toward the leftviewing that figure the roller 60 turns the switch in thecounterclockwise direction and opens the valve. The valve remains openuntil the carriage moves back past the switch 61 when the switch isagain operated by the roller 6E to shut off the supply of soot blowingmedium.

The chains 34 and 47 are adapted to be maintained taut by mounting theshafts 39 and 54!) for the respective idler sprockets 38 and 49 inlevers 62 pivoted at 63 to brackets 64 welded at 65 to the end plate 56of the casing 2. Adjusting screws 67 having lock nuts 6% applied theretoare threaded through the ends of the levers oz and their extremities areadapted to hear at 69 against the end plate 66 so that by adjusting thescrews 67 the tension in the chains may be controlled.

While We have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scopeof the following claims.

We claim:

1. A soot blower comprising a supply conduit for soot blowing medium, aprojectable and retractable lance communicating with the supply conduit,the lance having means adjacent its extremity for ejecting in agenerally lateral direction a jet of soot blowing medium, means forprojecting and retracting the lance, means for turning the lance, meansextending generally longitudinally of the lance connected with theturning means causing turning of the lance when the lance is projectedor retracted, even when the means extending generally longitudinally ofthe lance remains stationary, and means for moving the means extendinggenerally longitudinally of the lance to turn the lance independently ofprojection or retraction of the lance, whereby the path of the jet canbe controlled so as to be directed in any desired direction at any pointalong its travel.

2. A soot blower comprising a supply conduit for soot blowing medium, aprojectable and'retractable lance communicating with the supply conduit,the lance having means adjacent its extremity for ejecting in agenerally lateral direction a jet of soot blowing medium, means forprojecting and retracting the lance, means for turning the lance, suchturning means comprising a rotary member turnable about an axisgenerally transverse to the lance, means extending generallylongitudinally of the lance connected with the rotary member turning therotary member to turn the lance when the lance is projected orretracted, even when the means-extending generally longitudinally of thelance remains stationary, and means for moving the means extendinggenerally longitudinally of the lance to turn the lance independently ofprojection or retraction of the lance, whereby the path of the jet canbe controlled so as to be directed in any desired direction at any pointalong its travel.

3. A soot blower comprising a supply conduit for soot blowing medium, aprojectable and retractable lance communicating with the supply conduit,the lance having means adjacent its extremity for ejecting in agenerally lateral direction a jet of soot blowing medium, means forprojecting and retacting the lance, means for turning the lance, endlessmeans connected with the turning means causing turning of the lance whenthe lance is projected or retracted, even when the endless means remainsstationary, and means for driving the endless means to turn the lanceindependently of projection or retraction of the lance, whereby the pathof the jet can be controlled so as to be directed in any desireddirection at any point along its travel.

4. A soot blower comprising a supply conduit for soot blowing medium, aprojectable and retractable lance communicating with the supply conduit,the lance having means adjacent its extremity for ejecting in agenerally lateral direction a jet of soot blowing medium, means forprojecting and retracting the lance, means for turning the lance, suchturning means comprising a rotary member turnable about an axisgenerally transverse to the lance, endless means connected with therotary member turning the rotary member to turn the lance when the lanceis projected or retracted, even when the endless means remainsstationary, and means for driving the endless means to turn the lanceindependently of projection or retraction of the lance, whereby the pathof the jet can be controlled so asto be directed in any desireddirection at any point along its travel.

5. A soot blower comprising a supply conduit for soot blowing medium, aprojectable and retractable lance communicating with the supply conduit,the lance having means adjacent its extremity for ejecting in agenerally lateral direction a jet of soot blowing medium, means forprojecting and retracting the lance, means for turning the lance, suchturning means comprising a sprocket turnable about an axis generallytransverse to the lance, an

endless sprocket chain meshing with the sprocket turning the sprocket toturn the lance when the lance is projected or retracted, even when thesprocket chain remains stationary, and means for driving the sprocketchain to turn the lance independently of projection or retraction of thelance, whereby the path of the jet can be controlled so as to bedirected in any desired direction at any point along its travel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS867,511 Karns Oct. 1, 1907 2,126,683 Howse et al Aug. 9, 1938 2,324,785Linaker July 20, 1943 2,441,112 Hibner et al May 4, 1948 2,760,222Andersson Aug. 28, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 636,052 Great Britain Apr. 19,1950 1,026,751 France Feb. 11, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent M0,, 2,883,694. April 28, 1959 DeLos.E. Hibner, Jr., et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the saidLetters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 22, line 11, for lower" read up blower 3 column 5, line 26,

for "retacting" read retracting t Signed and sealed this 1st day ofSeptember 1959a Attest:

KARL HQ AXLINE Attesting Ofiicer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner ofPatents

